WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The Senate Agriculture Committee will begin rewriting and voting on its Farm Bill on Thursday as Congress races to replace expiring agricultural programs. Chairman John Boozman’s revised proposal adds year-round E15 sales and gives states more time to reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment errors.
The House approved its version April 30 by a 224–200 vote. The Senate committee must approve its bill before leaders can schedule floor debate, where most legislation requires enough support to overcome a 60-vote hurdle.
The proposal raises federal farm-loan limits, expands livestock and specialty-crop disaster assistance, strengthens trade-promotion funding, and continues the Conservation Reserve Program’s 27-million-acre ceiling. It also includes new animal-health, processing, rural-development, and crop-insurance provisions.
Differences between the House and Senate bills would require negotiations and new votes in both chambers. Nutrition policy, spending, conservation, E15, and commodity support could produce the largest disputes.
Most current Farm Bill authorities expire September 30, although Congress could approve another extension. Without final passage and the president’s signature before this Congress ends, lawmakers would begin again with new legislation in January.
